One of world cinema's most dynamic and highly regarded auteurs, Hou Hsiao-hsien has influenced entire generations of filmmakers and was once dubbed one of the three directors most crucial to the future of cinema. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present three films from early in his career, Cute Girl, The Green, Green Grass of Home and The Boys from Fengkuei, all making their worldwide debut on Blu-ray. Cute Girl (1980) A young bride-to-be falls for a laid-back land surveyor whilst visiting her family in the countryside. Conceived as a commercial vehicle for popular Hong Kong singer Kenny Bee, this romantic comedy was Hou Hsiao-hsien's debut feature. The Green, Green Grass of Home (1982) A substitute teacher (again played by Kenny Bee) moves to a remote village, where he falls in love with another teacher at the local school. The Boys from Fengkuei (1983) Three young men leave their fishing village for the city to look for work, where they face some harsh realities about growing up. The film which established Hou Hsiao-hsien as a leading figure of the Taiwanese New Wave, The Boys from Fengkuei was rapturously received in Europe and is often considered the director's first mature masterwork. Features: Limited Edition O-card [2000 copies First Print Run Only] In a 1988 worldwide critics' poll, Multi Award Winning Chinese Director HOU HSIAO-HSIEN was championed as one of the three directors most crucial to the future of cinema The Boys From Fengkuei Won the Golden Montgolfiere Award at the 1984 Nantes Three Continents Festival The Green, Green Grass Of Home Won the Golden Horse Award for Best Child Star (Pin-chun Chou) at the 1982 Golden Horse Film Festival Available for the first time in the UK and for the first time on Blu-ray anywhere in the world
Described as one of the best martial arts films of the last 30 years (Blood Brothers). Brotherhood of Blades tells an epic tale of power struggles, betrayal and conspiracies during the final years of the Ming Dynasty. When three elite Assassins are tasked by the Emperor to eliminate a powerful enemy and his loyal followers, they find themselves pulled into in a treacherous conspiracy which can only lead to a bloody battle for the Empire.
Two parts family melodrama one part Chinese nationalist history. An unseen narrarator weaves the tale of his grandmother a poor rural Chinese girl sold into marriage to a leprous winemaker. After her husband's death the grandmother transforms the winery into a idyllic community of productive laborers only to have her progress thwarted by the invading Japanese.
Described as one of the best martial arts films of the last 30 years (Blood Brothers). Brotherhood of Blades tells an epic tale of power struggles, betrayal and conspiracies during the final years of the Ming Dynasty. When three elite Assassins are tasked by the Emperor to eliminate a powerful enemy and his loyal followers, they find themselves pulled into in a treacherous conspiracy which can only lead to a bloody battle for the Empire.
A prequel to the original 2014 film Brotherhood of Blades. Set in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the story follows Shen Lian, an imperial guard, as he searches for the truth behind a conspiracy that framed him, his colleague Pei Lun and a young woman named Bei Zhai.
Jia Zhang Ke's ambitious film follows the lives of four friends over a turbulent 10 year period of Chinese history from 1979 to 1989. In the small town of Fenyang in the remote western province of Shanxi the teenage members of a state theatre troupe stage propoganda plays in praise of Mao. But as the country opens up to the free market and implements wide-ranging reform their lives are irrevocably changed as the world around them is transformed by the music fashions and other cul
The Stormriders transplants Macbeth into a medieval China in director Andy Lau's reinvention of classical tragedy as CGI-laden blockbuster. Officially the source material is a best-selling Manga, and the flying heroes with magical powers and the wild camera angles do indeed have a real graphic-novel flair. As the warlord Sonny Chiba is a commanding presence, while Ekin Cheng as Wind and Aaron Kwok as Cloud are perfect contrasting comic-book warriors. Kristy Yeung is a suitably lovely heroine, while Shi Qi provides irritating comic relief. There is style to burn, with beautiful imagery bearing the influence of Ridley Scott and, in the "blur-motion" duel in a bamboo forest, Wong Kar-Wai; indeed, Lau has served as Kar-Wai's cinematographer. Spectacular yet laden with symbolism The Stormriders is a film to bridge the appeal of Ashes of Time (1994) and The Bride with White Hair (1993) with the Superman (1978) and Mummy (1999) movies. The fights and a romantic flying sequence pay homage to the former, the computer effects update the groundbreaking Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain (1983) with the technology of the latter. Sometimes overly ambitious or just plain bizarre The Stormriders is an emotionally charged darkly romantic adventure which outclasses any comic-book adaptation Hollywood has made in years.On the DVD: The first disc presents the 127-minute director's cut in its original 2.35:1 ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. While the sound is clean, dynamic and makes great use of all the channels the picture is presented non-anamorphically, so that while well-focused, with strong colours and little sign of artefacting, it is not as solid or detailed as it could be. The main special features are two documentaries, a general "making-of" running 22 minutes, and a 20-minute "featurette" on the special effects. Both are promotional pieces made at the time of the film's release. The second disc features the US trailer and an object lesson in how to ruin a film, i.e. the "international" version ofThe Stormriders. Cut by 38 minutes, horribly panned and scanned and dubbed, this is a travesty that destroys all the beauty and atmosphere and renders the story incomprehensible. Why anyone would watch it when they have the complete film on the first disc is a mystery. The sound is again Dolby Digital 5.1 and the 4:3 image is fair. --Gary S Dalkin
A triple bill of Hong Kong action classics from director Andrew Lau (Wai Keung Lau). The Stormriders: The most eagerly awaited Hong Kong movie event boasting Hong Kong's highest ever production budget and box office take. It is a visually stunning epic blend of swordplay explosive martial arts and breathtaking special effects to create the ultimate final fantasy. A Man Called Hero: Based on the comic book series by Ma Wing Shing 'A Man Called Hero' is a spectacular
The adventures of Nova a young fighter who is guardian of his family legacy an all-powerful martial arts style known only as 'The Avenging Fist'. When 'Combat 21' the leader of an underground movement known as 'The Red Dragons' discovers the existence of the style he will stop at nothing to learn its secrets and combine its strength with the all-conquering 'Power Glove' a technological fighting tool designed to unlock the unknown power of the human mind and body. When th
Unleashed: Serve no master. Written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Louis Leterrier Unleashed features a fantastic performance from martial arts superstar Jet Li. On and beneath the mean streets of Glasgow fiery gangster Bart (Hoskins) is merciless with debtors would-be rivals and anyone else he takes a passing dislike to. Bart maintains his stranglehold through his unwitting enforcer Danny (Jet Li) who he has 'raised' since boyhood. Danny has been kept as a near-prisoner: trained to attack and if necessary kill. Danny knows little of life except the brutal existence that Bart has so cruelly fashioned for him. However when Danny has a chance encounter with the sightless piano tuner Sam (Morgan Freeman) he senses true kindness and compassion for the first time and experiences the transforming power of music. When a sudden gangland coup separates Danny from Bart and the gang Danny escapes the underworld. Taking refuge with Sam and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon) Danny finds a family of sorts and a future... However the mob will not give up their prize asset so easily and Danny must soon call upon his skills once more to protect his family and bury his past. (Dir. Louis Leterrier 2005) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) battle against evil forces to recover their stolen sword the legendary Green Destiny. (Dir. Ang Lee 2000) Kung Fu Hustle: From walking disaster to Kung Fu master: it's a new comedy unlike anything you have seen before! In the 1940's Chinese province of Guangdong petty thief Sing (Stephen Chow) aspires to become a member of the notorious Axe gang the fiercest cruel and most widespread crime syndicate in the city. However Sing is just a street rascal (trying to ignore the fact that his heart is actually in the right place) and so he ventures into the run-down Pig Sty Alley to prove his worth. However in attempting to extort money from the hairdresser Sing unwittingly exposes the plump landlady her hen-pecked husband the camp tailor and rugged coolie as martial arts masters in hiding. Coming to the attention of the Axe gang who want to clear out the apartments Sing's actions have set off a relentless chain of events that brings the clans together in an explosive battle! Stephen Chow continues his unique comedy style that first came to the attention of the West in Shaolin Soccer mixing slapstick in the finest tradition of Buster Keaton; to marvellous martial arts choreographed by none other than Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix Kill Bill); to dance sequences with tuxedoed gangsters; to moments of genuine pathos concerning Sing's mysterious history involving a beautiful mute lollipop vendor... (Dir. Stephen Chow 2004)
John a member of the New York Police Criminal Section and skilled ninja is assigned to the drug squad. Professor Chan father of his girlfriend Nancy and on the brink of finding a cure for morphine addiction is suddenly killed by five mysterious ninjas. On the trail of vengeance John finds that all clues point to Hong Kong...
Life Show is about Lai Shuang Yang who runs a small restaurant in an old quarter of Shanghai. While not a mother she is in many ways the matriarch of her family caring for her nephew struggling to keep her brother out of trouble with drugs and most importantly trying to regain possession of the family home that was lost during the Cultural Revolution. She will stop at nothing to retake the family estate. When a male customer begins to show an interest in her Shuang Yang starts to believe that her lonely life can change and happiness is possible after all. Her focus however is not on romance as it is on making a home. But in this their goals diverge sharply when she discovers that he has not the slightest intention of marrying her.
Cheng Pei-Pei stars as Golden Swallow in this influential 1966 martial-arts saga from pioneering director King Hu one of the first to feature a woman fighter in the lead role. Set in 19th-century China (and featuring a cameo from a very young Jackie Chan) Come Drink With Me has it's heroine battling to rescue her brother from a band of kidnappers in a role that helped pave the way for subsequent hits like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. This fun adventurous movie also features the excellent Yueh Hua in the obligatory kung-fu-master-disguised-as-beggar role.
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